Yaroslav Askarov is heading into a season that could set the tone for his next deal, and the San Jose Sharks are clearly betting big on what comes next.
The 24-year-old Russian goaltender is entering the final year of his two-year, $4-million contract and will be a restricted free agent after the season. That puts a spotlight on every start he makes in 2026-27, especially after a 2025-26 campaign in which he handled a career-high 47 games. His line finished at 21-20-4 with an .883 save percentage and a 3.63 goals against average.
Those numbers don’t jump off the page, but the Sharks still see plenty to like. Askarov flashed moments that suggested more is in there, and San Jose is counting on him to take another step as it tries to chase its first playoff berth since 2019. That’s a big reason the Sharks have shown up in preseason predictions to reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2027.
On Monday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton brought in JD Young of Locked On Sharks to talk through Askarov’s outlook and what his next contract might resemble.
Hutton asked directly about the goalie’s place in San Jose and where the organization goes from here. Young pointed to a strong offseason and said Askarov added size and strength over the summer.
“Ones, just the amount of games that he played last year, and two, especially with the defense the Sharks had, he was just shellshocked night in and night out. I think that kind of got to him, when you saw him giving up some soft goals that you definitely wouldn’t want to see.”
Young also said Askarov talked during training camp and the preseason about improving his nutrition and wanting to get bigger and faster. Through the preseason, Young said, the goalie has looked sharp, including in a game against the Vegas Golden Knights’ A-team.
“I liked his game against the Vegas Golden Knights’ A-team. San Jose got off to a poor start, and Askarov kept the Sharks in that game, until their offense finally got going in the third period.”
If Askarov delivers the kind of season San Jose expects, Young believes the contract conversation could land in a three-year, $6-million average annual value range. He also noted Jakub Dobes of the Montreal Canadiens as part of the same market.
In Other News...
Sharks Opening Night Roster Leaves One Big Lineup Question
The Sharks have set their opening-night roster, and the group comes into the season carrying the usual blend of certainty and late decisions that tend to follow a long camp. San Jose is carrying 14 forwards, seven defensemen and two goalies, and the initial picture got a small jolt when Brett Leason was added to the roster as Adam Gaudette went on injured reserve with an upper-body injury.
Head coach Ryan Warsofsky also addressed where things stand for the opener, and the answer still leaves at least one part of the lineup unsettled. The forward group has some clarity, but one of the remaining defense spots is still being sorted out, keeping a bit of suspense around how the Sharks will line up when the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Macklin Celebrini Just Gave Sharks Fans A Telling Leadership Clue
Macklin Celebrinis latest interview offered a small but meaningful glimpse into how the young center sees the game and the kind of standard he wants around him. Speaking with Sharks host Natalie Noury, Celebrini singled out Sidney Crosby as the model when the conversation turned to leadership, a fitting reference point for a player trying to establish himself as one of the faces of San Joses next era.
The timing matters, too, because Noury also caught up with coach Ryan Warsofsky about the Sharks offseason and the work being done before the upcoming season. Between the clubs roster projections, Matt Nietos retirement announcement and the usual trickle of NHL and PWHL updates, the interview collection painted a broader picture of a team still sorting out its identity, with Celebrinis comments offering one of the clearest hints yet about the kind of tone he believes winning teams need. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Face A Bigger Alexander Nikishin Problem Than Fans Realized
The Carolina Hurricanes and restricted free agent defenseman Alexander Nikishin are still sorting through a contract situation that has turned into one of the quieter but more notable stories around the club. Nikishin recently changed agents to Paul Theefanous, and with his next step still unsettled, Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky said both sides are handling the matter privately as they try to figure out how to proceed.
There is now a real sense that this is not just a routine negotiation but a process with some friction attached, especially after reports that Nikishin has requested a trade. For a team that would prefer clarity on a player with his profile, the timing only adds to the uncertainty, and this may not be the kind of issue that gets neatly wrapped up anytime soon. [Read more 🡒]